ABSTRACT
Survivin is a member of the inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) family (Salvesen and Duckett, 2002). Survivin contains a single baculovirus IAP repeat and lacks a carboxy-terminal RINGfinger. The protein has been renamed BIRC5 (baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein-5) (Ambrosini et al., 1997). Hence, survivin is encoded by the BIRC5 gene. The survivin “apoptosis inhibitor 4” has its structural homology with the murine TIAP (Thiol inhibitor of apoptosis) and deterin of Drosophila melanogaster; however, the functional aspects are only partially unique. Similarly, the genomes of Xenopus laevis, Xenopus tropicalis, zebra fish, fugu pufferfish, and rainbow trout encode two different survivin genes (Su1 and Su2), which is contrary to mammalian genomes, which encode a single survivin gene (Sah et al. 2006; Du Pasquier et al., 2006).
